On the Edge of Destiny (Book 3) (A Vampire SEAL Novel)

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

To all my fans! Thank you for taking this journey with me.

This book is dedicated to you

Chapter 1

I
f today were my last day, then there was no place I’d rather be than nestled in the arms of the most gorgeous vampire, Webb London. I’d never imagined a world where my heart—and, quite possibly, my soul—connected to another so strongly as it did to him. I was drunk from his touch, his kiss, his presence, and I didn’t want our date to end.

But reality trumped the world I lived in, and life knocked on the door. It was time to leave.

Reluctantly, I slid back into the limo. I had three hours before I lost my glass slipper. Midnight loomed, and Dad was expecting me.

Threading his fingers through my hair, Webb kissed my temple. “I had a great time today, Jo,” he whispered. “Did you?”

“I did.” I sneaked my hand under his shirt, tracing circles around his navel.

Any chance he gave me I explored his body, learning every curve, dip, and valley above the waist. I had an inkling my bloodlust was going to take a backseat to my craving for the sexy vampire.

As the limo rolled down the coastal highway, I reminisced about the magnificent day that Webb and I spent together at his secluded house on the coast in Maine. It was my first date ever, and I’d had no idea what to expect. Most of the girls in school went out on dates to movies or out to eat. My best friend, Darcy Rose, had shared her experience with me. Her first date had been with a boy who had taken her to see one of the Harry Potter movies. At first she’d been nervous. They hardly talked on the way to the theater, but after the movie ended they went for pizza and discussed what they liked and disliked about it. According to her, the movie was a great icebreaker.

I couldn’t think of an icebreaker that released some of the nervous tension I had except maybe time. As the day progressed, I became more comfortable with Webb. We took advantage of the sun and sand as we walked along the beach, dipping our toes in the surf. Maybe the soothing sounds of the waves helped to relax me. When we weren’t outside, we snuggled in front of the windowed doors, which overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. I’d learned Webb had built the house four years ago as a place to relax and find peace.

The moon lit the way as we continued our trek home, towards what I’d hoped were better days. A light tickle at the base of my spine, however, warned me to be cautious. Why? I didn’t know. I was still growing into my vampire body. Yet my sixth sense grew stronger and more acute every day.

George, a family friend of Webb’s, was driving. He’d picked up Webb and me from the military base earlier that afternoon. The little amount of time I had to chat with him, I’d found he loved the game of basketball. I wasn’t surprised, given that he was tall and lanky.

The soothing hum of the tires caused my eyelids to droop. I tried desperately to stay awake. I wanted to spend every last minute with Webb.

“I don’t want to go back,” I mumbled as my fingers roamed north over his toned abs.

Sure, I wanted to see Dad and my brother, Sam, but I didn’t want to deal with whatever lay ahead. We had actually gotten through a day without any craziness—no phone calls, no explosions, no fires to put out, and no one kidnapping me or trying to kill me.

He groaned, gently pulling back my hair. We locked gazes for a second before his lips devoured mine, far from gentle as our tongues collided. He broke away, breathing heavily.

“What you do to me,” he whispered.

I blushed as I kept my eyes locked on his.

“You have no idea how much you affect me, do you?”

I kind of did. We’d been inseparable the entire day. Still, I wanted to hear his words, so I gave a slight shake of my head, my stomach fluttering in anticipation.

Suddenly he lifted his head, his eyes widening. “George? What’s wrong?”

What could possibly have Webb spooked? I sat up.

To my horror, the limo was barreling down a steep incline.

“Sir,” George said. “The brakes…”

The headlights illuminated a warning sign.
Slow down. Ten miles per hour.
I glanced at the speedometer, and my body turned to ice.

We were traveling at sixty miles per hour, and the needle was ticking higher.

“Emergency brake,” Webb called.

I checked my seat belt. It was already fastened.

To the left, the ocean whizzed by, as did the high mountain range outside my window on the right.

“It’s on, sir,” George said frantically.

“There should be a runaway for truckers before you reach the curve,” Webb said without a hint of fear or panic in his voice.

How the heck were we going to survive? This was a limo, not a NASCAR vehicle.

His hand grabbed mine. I leaned back and closed my eyes.

What a freaking way to end a date.

My eyelids flew open as the car banked around the curve. George’s hands clutched the wheel so hard, his knuckles glowed white.

“Now, George!” Webb shouted.

George turned the wheel hard, and the limo barreled up the hill where it stopped for a brief second before rolling backwards.

“Straighten out. We’ll go up the embankment behind us and slow some more. Then we can get out,” Webb said, still without any trace of panic.

George did as Webb instructed. The car rolled down before creeping a bit up the hill behind us.

I gripped the seat belt, ready to free myself and jump out, when I spotted a glow in the distance. I dialed my vampire vision, zeroing in on several pairs of eyes gleaming in the night. I couldn’t tell if they were animals or…

I didn’t get a chance to figure it out before a rumbling noise pierced my ears.

“Jo. George,” Webb said calmly. “Get out and run up the hill behind us. Whatever you do, don’t look back.”

A large boulder up the mountain crunched over the gravel, making a beeline straight for us.

“Out. Now!” Webb growled.

I punched the release on my seat belt, but either my hands shook too much or the flippin’ belt was stuck. I tried again. Nothing. Panic grabbed me.

Halfway out of the car, Webb turned, glancing between the seat belt and me. The rock clipped the front corner of the limo. My head bounced off the leather seat. Webb fell from the car out of sight.

The boulder rolled down onto the pavement, breaking through the concrete barrier between the road and the ocean, and disappeared into the night.

Time stood still. I dared a peek out the window. The vehicle sat at a slight angle, facing the road.

Holy hell! Much more movement forward, and the limo would likely plummet into the Atlantic.

Webb suddenly appeared and grabbed the door, nudging the car forward.

“Rip off the belt and jump. Now!” His inky black eyes were wide with fear. “I’m not losing you tonight.”

And I wasn’t dying tonight, especially not in that ocean. I’d recently had a close call when the boat Ben Jackson and I were on sank during a freak storm.

Tearing the belt from me, I opened the door. I took in a breath, ready to leap, when the limo started sliding down the gravel incline, fast approaching the road.

Jump, tuck, and roll had been what the gym teacher had taught me in gymnastics class. So this should be easy. Not.

“Jo. What are you waiting for? Get out!” Webb barked from somewhere, panic in his voice.

I tucked my chin, covered my head with my arms, closed my eyes, and jumped. My hands hit gravel before my entire body slammed against the ground. I rolled as though I were a snowball, barreling down the hill and gaining momentum. Pebbles embedded in my skin. Larger rocks jabbed me in the legs, back, and stomach.

I opened my eyes. The gaping hole in the concrete barrier grew closer, and at the rate I was going, I’d probably plow right through and into the Atlantic Ocean. I had to find something to stop me.

“Jo, grab onto the pole,” Webb shouted.

Pole? What was he talking about? I didn’t see anything except death.

As I hit smooth pavement, a bright light lit up the roadway. Didn’t people see a bright light just before their life ended?

I rolled once then twice before I relaxed my body, prayed, and braced for whatever fate had in store for me.

The light grew brighter before the sound of an engine roared in my ears. I was either going to roll through the broken barrier behind the limo and into the dark depths of the ocean below, or the car speeding toward me would claim my life.

Out of nowhere, a strong wind hit me, followed by a whooshing sound. All the air left my lungs.

“Stay still,” Webb whispered.

How could I move? His weight kept me pinned to the ground. While I loved the vampire’s arms on me, even his body on top of me, which was a new position for him, I couldn’t freakin’ breathe.

“Um…can’t…breathe,” I managed to squeak out.

A loud crash echoed. A bright orange light graced the sky followed by pillows of smoke. Was it the limo or the other car that fell to its death?

Webb eased up slightly. “Are you okay?” he asked, sweeping his gaze over my face, his hands furiously searching my body. His heart was beating uncontrollably.

“I will…be…when I can breathe…better.”

“Oh. Sorry.” He lifted up slightly.

I gulped in large amounts of oxygen, and the tightness in my chest slowly dwindled.

His hands were still checking every inch of me.

“I tried to roll over so you wouldn’t take the impact. I’m sorry. I didn’t have a good hold on you. You sure you’re okay?”

“I will…be.” I sucked in more oxygen.

“Stay here. I need to check on George.” He jogged down to the road.

I sat up as George met Webb.

“Are you two all right?” George’s brown eyes were wide with fear.

Webb opened his mouth to respond but quickly shut it when a woman appeared behind George.

“I’m so sorry. I narrowly missed you and that car.” She stabbed her thumb toward the ocean.

“Can you give us a ride into town?” Webb asked.

“Sure. But I need some help. My car stalled for some reason after I skidded to a stop. It’s down the hill a ways.” Her brown hair glinted in the moonlight as she flicked her head to her left.

I stood up, brushing the dirt and rocks from me.

“George. Help the lady, please.”

“Yes, sir. Hang tight.”

George and the brunette made small talk as they both disappeared.

Webb walked back to me, pain painting his handsome features. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m breathing.” I looked into his molten onyx eyes.

Webb’s eyes shifted between the most amazing cobalt blue and black when his emotions changed.

“Why aren’t we going?” I asked.

“She’s human, and I want to make sure your thirst is okay before we get into the car.” His heart beat wildly.

“Hey.” I reached up and touched his face. “What’s wrong?”

He cocooned me in his arms. “You scared me. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost you.” He again ran his hands over my entire body before easing back and sweeping his gaze over me for the tenth time.

“I’m fine, Webb.”

His forehead kissed mine. “You would tell me if you weren’t?” Apprehension threaded through his words.

My throat closed with emotion. So, I gave a slight nod and blinked my answer.

He sighed heavily, and his heartbeat began to slow. Mine followed suit. It seemed our hearts were in sync.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” He pushed his strong hand through his shoulder-length brown hair.

A crescent moon dotted the sky, and smoke lingered in the air. I imagined the crashing waves put out the flames from the burning limo.

“Do you think someone messed with the brakes?” Given the way my life was going, I had to be suspicious of everything.

“The thought has crossed my mind.”

George was a longtime family friend, so I couldn’t imagine it would be him. However, stranger things had happened. Like how Webb’s sister, Kate, had switched sides and was now sleeping with our archenemy, Edmund Rain. Plus only a day had passed since Kate staked her brother with a cobalt sword, missing his heart by only an eighth of an inch.

As if he knew what I was thinking, he said, “It’s not George.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do.” He scanned the area.

“Not good enough. If someone is trying to kill us, we need to look at everyone. Even you know this.”

I didn’t want to play the Kate card, but if I had to I would.

He grasped my shoulders, hard. “George…has been loyal to me for many years.” Anger supplanted the worry on his face. “Besides, why would he tamper with the brakes then get in the car with us?”

He had a point, I guess.

“Webb, you’re hurting me.” I didn’t know if he realized his grip was like a vise.

His left hand slid down to the small of my back while his right hand cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to.”

I leaned into his palm. “It’s okay.”

I wanted to shoulder some of his pain. I didn’t want to see him hurt any more than he wanted to see me hurt, whether physically or mentally.

He peppered kisses down my neck, his fangs grazing the skin.

I shuddered at the sensation. When I did, an image materialized of me sucking on his wrist the night in the woods. My body quaked at the remembrance of how his blood tasted, sweet and sinful. How he reacted, melting into me, moaning in pleasure as I sated my hunger.

I mewled as I tilted my head to give him better access.

He growled.

My fangs dropped. I desperately wanted to taste his blood again. As I licked my lips, I stilled. What was I doing? What was he doing? Our laws dictated new vampires could only drink from another vampire if it were an emergency, meaning if I were hurt or needed blood. Neither was the case at the moment. But was he hungry? Was it legal for him to drink from me?

“Webb?” I breathed.

“Yes, angel,” he said in a husky voice.

“Are you hungry?”

I didn’t want to get in trouble with the Council of Eternal Affairs. They were the vampires who governed the laws in my world. Regardless, I would do anything for Webb, even though my head was on the chopping block for the death of my nemesis, Blake Turner. He’d been a product of Edmund Rain’s sick plan of converting ordinary humans into vampires.

“I’m not.” He jerked up his head as if I had thrown ice-cold water on him.

“If you are, I don’t mind.”

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